As Syracuse Common Councilors continue reviewing Mayor Ben Walsh’s 2025-26 proposed budget, the city auditor has produced an analysis of the spending plan.
Alex Marion said he’s the first city auditor to analyze a proposed budget before it’s been enacted. A document his office created, called “Budget Balancing Act,” reviews all the revenue and spending in the $348 million spending plan. To start with, Marion said the mayor’s plan, which includes a 2% property tax hike, reflects tough times for cities.
“Look, this is a challenging budget year, and I do respect the mayor's efforts to make lemonade out of some lemons,” Marion said.
At the same time, he sees opportunities to gain more control over the budget in certain ways. For example, raising more revenue by revamping the way the city collects fees.
“Through improved permit and licensed fee structures,” he said. “Transforming our approach to street parking and parking garages, leveraging our code enforcement operations. These are smart tools, and many already exist. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We don’t need to reinvent something. They already exist, and simply need a modern take on them, and simply increase the fees we are leveraging."
Marion has several other suggestions, including clarifications regarding how much is in the city’s fund balance.
On the revenue side, Marion believes the state needs to offer more help to cities in the midst of tax-exempt property tax crisis. Less than half the properties in Syracuse pays property taxes, the second largest source of revenue for the city.
A public hearing on the budget is set for April 29, with a final vote by the Common Council expected in early May.
